Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Constructive Commercial Real Estate Advice And Tips

By Jeff Tormey


A commercial real estate venture is a very different proposition than buying a house. Read this article for timely tips and advice to help drive you to success.

If you put the commercial property up for sale, have it inspected. Any problems or necessary repair identified by a professional inspector should be addressed and fixed as soon as possible.

|Before initiating a purchase, be sure that you are negotiating with a customer-focused company. Otherwise, you may end up paying a lot in the long run for a mistake that could have easily been avoided.

|Think big when you think about commercial real estate investments. You may find that upkeep and operations for a twenty-unit property may actually be comparable to those required of a five-unit property. You need commercial financing regardless of the number of units, and larger buildings will be cheaper per unit.

|It is critical when you are in the market for real estate that you know how to discern between a good deal and a not-so-good deal. People who deal in real estate on a professional level can spot a great deal immediately. One of their tools to success is always having an exit strategy. This allows them to opt out of a deal if it doesn't meet their criteria. They can also quickly spot damages needing repair, have the ability to calculate risk and can do the calculations that let them know for sure that their monetary objectives will be fulfilled by the property in question.

|You should examine the surrounding neighborhood of any commercial real estate you may be interested in. If you are looking in a high-rent neighborhood, you may have a better chance at success once you get going because of the potential of area residents to have money to spend. However, if your services are more frequently utilized by people of lower socioeconomic brackets, be sure to find a neighborhood that suits it.

|When obtaining a loan for commercial real estate, it is up to the borrower to directly request an appraisal. The bank won't let you go back and order it later. Ensure it gets done, and gain peace of mind in the process, by ordering it yourself.

|Location is the most important factor in choosing a commercial property to buy. You will want to consider many things, including the neighborhood that the property is located in. Compare its growth to similar areas. This research will help you figure out how the neighborhood you're considering buying commercial property in is likely to grow and change over the next several years. If you aren't comfortable with the potential growth rate or the atmosphere of the neighborhood, purchase property elsewhere.

|Keep letters of intent simple by tackling large issues before sweating the small stuff. This lets you get the bigger issues out of the way first and makes small issues simpler to complete.

|Take tours of the properties that are potential purchases. Think also about having a professional contractor tag along aside you when you look over these properties. Make a proposal early, and get into the beginning stages of negotiation. Consider counteroffers carefully prior to responding.

|Develop the perception that you are an expert by beginning an online blog. This is a great way to introduce people to your products and services and also which properties you have available for sale or leasing.

You must be patient to succeed as a real estate investor. Make decisions calmly and slowly--don't be in a rush to buy a piece of property. Don't jump into any investment without doing your research. You may soon regret it when the property does not fulfill your goals. It could take as long as a year to find the right investment in your market.

|You should thoroughly look into the brokers that you are considering, and determine their level of expertise and experience when dealing with commercial real estate. Look for brokers who specialize in the type of commercial property that you're purchasing or selling. You and this broker should enter into an agreement that is exclusive.

|It is vital that you stick to the rent and other terms that you previously decided on whenever you write a new lease. Otherwise, your investment properties will not be profitable. You should know exactly what you'll be charging for rent before you speak with any possible tenants. Setting your goals will allow you to confidently deal with your commercial property.

|If you are new to investing, focus on one investment type at a time. For example, concentrate your efforts on working with a single type of property. It is best at first to learn on one strategy than start out with many where you might not fare as well.

|Before negotiating a lease with a commercial tenant, work on narrowing down the list of things that would constitute default. Decreasing these will prevent tenants from performing a default on the lease after your negotiations. Once a default happens, you'll be in big trouble!

|Be sure to first find the right financing. Commercial lending institutions and the types of loans they offer differ from conventional home loans. Some aspects of commercial loans are better than those of home loans. Commercial loans typically require larger down payments, but banks are more likely to let you borrow some of this from a partner or friend.

|Ask potential real estate brokers to describe how they make money. They must be able to talk to you about this question openly, as they make it clear that their interest is different from yours. It's obvious that real estate agents stand to benefit by selling property to you, so it becomes important that you deal with only an honest broker.

|You need to be able to spot good deals to be able to make them advantageous to you. Professional investors have an eagle eye for great deals. One of their tools to success is always having an exit strategy. This allows them to opt out of a deal if it doesn't meet their criteria. To be a professional real estate investor, you need to learn how to determine the risks inherent in every investment. Professionals can figure out the hidden costs of an investment, such as the need for extensive repairs, and only invest in properties that help them reach their financial goals.

|Know what your goals are when you are purchasing commercial property. Will you be utilizing this property for yourself, or do you intend on renting it out? Before you even start looking for a property, your goals should be clear and specific.

|Consider the good tax benefits if you are thinking about purchasing commercial properties for investment purposes. In addition to depreciation benefits, many investors enjoy tax deductions for interest expenses. "Phantom income" is a taxed income, but not income received as cash. Try to understand this before you invest.

There are numerous ways to save money on the costs associated with cleaning up a property. You are only liable for a property's environmental hazards if you actually own all or part of the property. It can be incredibly expensive to dispose of waste that is not environmentally friendly. Try getting a report about the environment from one of the environmental assessment agencies. There will be fees involved; however, the savings overall will justify the expense.

|Search for buildings that are simply designed and constructed if you're planning on renting out commercial property. Tenants will be eager to fill these spaces because it will be clear that they are well-maintained. This type of building also has the advantage of requiring less maintenance, an attractive feature for tenants and owners alike.

|Build up a system of prospective financial partners, including local lenders and business contacts; this ensures that you always have access to the cash flow required to make a purchase. Contracts should be devised that either provide you with a fixed rate of interest on the loan repayment, or provide them with a percentage of what you make from the property.

|If a real estate company insinuates that their commercial lease form is boilerplate, call their bluff and read the form line by line. You have to read the lease in full to be sure that there nothing that has been slipped in that will be negative for your organization before you sign anything. By reading the lease in full, you will be protecting your organization from potential problems in the future.

|You should be aware of any environmental concerns. For example, hazardous waste materials are a major red flag for any property. When these issues arise, the burden ultimately falls on the property manager to solve them, regardless of who is responsible for having caused the issues.

|Unlike a home loan, you will need a higher percentage down payment for a commercial real estate loan. You can increase your chances of qualifying for a commercial loan by researching and comparing lenders and loan products and trying to find investors.

|When purchasing commercial real estate, it's important that you understand the property you're purchasing may be a lifelong investment. If a property is well past its prime, you could end up putting a fortune into maintenance and renovations. Because of this, it's always important to consider the prime lifetime of any property you are considering and to factor in any additional upkeep costs in determining what you are willing to pay. The property could need major improvements like a roof replacement or total rewiring. All building need this kind of care. However, some may need more upkeep than others. Be prepared for when these necessities come up.

|There are a variety of types of real estate brokers who deal in commercial properties. Some agents will represent only the tenant while a full service broker will represent both parties. A broker who works only with tenants should have more experience and should represent a better choice for you.

|Have an excellent attorney go over all documents pertaining to the financing of a commercial real estate property before signing the paperwork. It is good to have the best lawyer possible in your corner to protect your name in case of problems in your real estate dealings.

|Don't underestimate your relationship with private lenders or investors when you buy commercial real estate. Make sure you have a big network because there's a lot of property that goes unnoticed and is sold, you want to increase your chances of making deals by always being informed.

You will need to know what you are looking for in a commercial property prior to beginning your search. Draw up a list of specific attributes your office space must have, including size, number of meeting rooms, and available bathrooms.

|Create a real estate newsletter or blog that is regularly updated, and stay active on relevant social networking sites. After you have finished a deal, don't vanish from sight online.

|Don't make any offers on commercial property before you've found a lender. Consult with friends who have experience along with other investors in order to compile a list of lenders that you should consider using. Before beginning the task of purchasing a property, take time to research the lenders and choose one who will fulfill your needs. If you take the time to be fully prepared, your loan process will be more efficient, and the odds of qualifying for the loan are higher.

|To determine how honest a real estate broker is, you might consider inquiring about their financial performance. Legitimate brokers won't mind answering this type of question openly and honestly. Ask the broker to explain how making sales benefits his firm and compare the way it benefits him to the way it benefits you. Make sure you understand how they are going to benefit from the transaction that they will take care of for you.

|Prior to investing massive sums of money in a property, take a hard look at community income averages, as well as employment rates, and how much hiring and firing nearby businesses are doing. Homes that are located near schools, hospitals and other major employers are assigned a higher resale value.

|Commercial property investors need to be conscious of drastic inflation in upcoming years. In the past, investors didn't have to worry about this because their leases required lenders to adjust their mortgage interest rate based on the inflation rate. Unfortunately, in today's market, this practice is very seldom used. This can make you defenseless against the consequences of inflation.

|There are a number of significant differences between commercial and residential loans. For example, commercial loans often require a higher down payment. Try to locate the best lenders; then try asking for any quality investments. Both of these are a great way for you to increase your changes of qualifying for a commercial loan.

|If you are trying to choose between two desirable commercial purchases, the larger one may be the better choice. Obtaining adequate financing is a major undertaking, whether you opt for a ten-unit apartment complex or a twenty-unit apartment complex. Also, purchasing more units is like buying in bulk. The more you buy, the cheaper each unit will be.

|You should advertise your commercial property as being for sale to people locally and those who are not local. Many sellers mistakenly assume that their property is only interesting to local buyers. There are many private investors who prefer to purchase reasonably-priced real estate that is not local to where they reside.

|You should meet with a tax adviser before you buy anything. This specialist can advise you on the building costs of any project you may be considering. He or she can also determine your taxable income. If you don't want to pay high income taxes, your adviser can suggest some areas of the country to focus on where the tax rates are lower.

Be clear about the square footage available. It is common for commercial properties to be described in terms of usable square feet in which an enterprise would actually operate, or in terms of total square feet, which encompasses walls and non-usable area. The best strategy is to ask for both figures, to ask for the square footage and the usable square footage.

|In the beginning, a great deal of time might be required to spend on your investment. It will take time to find a lucrative opportunity, and after purchasing a property, it may need repairs or remodeling. Don't throw in the towel due to the massive hours needed. Your rewards will come later.

|Scrutinize any disclosures made by a real estate agent whom you intend to hire. Keep an eye out for dual agencies. What this means is that your chosen agency has an interest in buying and selling the property. This means that the agent is representing the interests of the lessor and lessee simultaneously. If this is the case, and the agent is a dual agent, this should be known to both parties and agreed to by both parties.

|When financing for commercial real estate investments, you need to make sure that you have your financial statements on hand. Without proof of your and your business' financial stability, most banks will be hesitant to lend to you.

|Prior to purchasing anything, get together with your tax adviser. This specialist can advise you on the building costs of any project you may be considering. He or she can also determine your taxable income. An adviser could even help you find an area with lower taxes.

|Before buying a commercial property, research its net operating income to make sure you don't lose money. Having positive numbers is the only way to ensure success.

|Size is an extremely important variable when searching for the perfect commercial property. If you do not want to be looking at properties again soon, it is important to find a commercial space with sufficient room for future expansion.

|You can find different ways of saving on costs of repair when it comes to cleanup. You are potentially responsible in paying for cleanup if you have an ownership interest pertaining to the property. The costs of waste disposal and environmental cleanup can add up quickly. Get a report of the environment from a company that specializes in it. These assessments can cost some money, but they pale in comparison to the savings of avoiding a contaminated property on your hands.

|Net Operating Income, the commercial metric for real estate, needs to be understood. Success is about staying in the green.

|One question you must ask potential real estate broker is that person's definition of failure and success. Ask them how their results are measured. Ask them to explain the methods and techniques they employ. You should only partner up with a broker if there is common ground in your shared beliefs and thinking.

Hire a qualified commercial real estate attorney to avoid legal problems later. If the deal goes south for any reason, it's important to have someone on your side that will fight tooth and nail to represent your interests.

|Always include emergency maintenance on your list of need to know things. Make sure to consult your landlord about emergency repair responsibilities in your building or office. Always keep this important contact information at hand, including average turnaround times. Make an emergency plan once you have this information. If a flood, fire or break-in interrupts your normal business day, you need to have a plan in place so that you can re-open as soon as possible.

|Learn how the firm you're thinking about hiring measures their results. For example, it may be useful to know about how required space is calculated, key factors for evaluation and the mechanisms of different methods of negotiation. If you know these things before you hire them, it can help.

|When you buy commercial real estate, look for opportunities to buy bigger. It doesn't take a lot more work than a smaller location, and it turns a greater profit over time.

|Maintaining a regularly updated blog can make you appear more authoritative. Doing so can assist you in finding buyers and renters for your properties.

|One major part of commercial real estate deals is inspections. When property you are involved in is being inspected, take steps to verify the legitimacy of every inspector. You need to be especially diligent when it comes to hiring a pest control service, as many people who work in this field aren't accredited. This can prevent larger problems from occurring after the sale.

|If you desire to rent out commercial real estate, then you need to find solidly yet simply constructed buildings. These are the most likely to quickly invite tenants into the space, because they know it is well-cared for. Maintenance is also easier, because these buildings require less repair.

|If you are looking to invest in an apartment complex, be mindful of the fact that smaller communities can pose more complexity than dealing with a larger one. Due to this, a lot of field experts advise avoiding any property with a single digit number of units. The specific details of the property you are looking at will determine if it is a good investment, so do not use the ten unit rule as a strict guideline.

|Your investment might prove to be time-consuming in the beginning. First you will need to find a property that you think is worth purchasing, and you may have to remodel or repair it. Do not cut corners on this process, just because it might take up a lot of time. Once you get the property ready, you will be compensated for years to come.

|Try to keep your commercial property rentals at full occupancy. Empty commercial properties mean a building that you are having to maintain without any income being received. If you have more than one empty property, think about why that may be, and consider what you may be doing to drive tenants away.

Keep in mind the larger the better when thinking of a permanent location for a business. You want to invest into commercial property that has the potential to grow so that you don't have to shop for you business again a few years down the line.

|Learn the basics of feng shui, and apply it when investing in commercial property, and also apply it in your own office. Seeing spaces that are not cluttered and very open is appealing to potential buyers.

|Establish the needs of your business before looking at buildings. Make sure you have an idea of the type of office space that you want to work in. If you are planning growth for your company, you should invest in more space than what you need when the price is low, it will save you later down the line.

|Before you make a decision on which real estate broker to use, see how they negotiate. Inquire about their background, such as how much experience they have and what type of training. You also want to check into the methods they use and make sure they are ethical when doing business. Request to see examples of previous negotiations, both those that were unsuccessful and those that were successful.

|While searching through different properties, make a checklist of each tour you went on. Certainly take down initial proposal responses, but don't get into anything further without informing the property owners. You may want to offhandedly let the owners know that theirs is only one of a few properties in which you are currently interested. Letting this fact slip may even result in your getting a more lucrative deal.

|Bugs and rodents are always looking to ruin your property, so factor pest control into your business strategy when renting commercial property. This is especially important when an area is known to have pest and rodent problems. Prior to signing a lease, ask your agent what the current pest control policies are.

|If you are new to investing in real estate, spend some time surfing online resources that house information that seasoned investors use. Having a great base of knowledge will give you the tools to complete every part of the buying process with confidence, leading to solid decision making.

|When searching for a real estate agent, keep their disclosures in mind so you know who they are working for. Make sure you understand the potential for the existence of dual agency. Dual agency means the real estate company is representing both the seller and the buyer in a property transaction. In other words, the agent is representing both you and your landlord in the same transaction. Dual agency should be disclosed and both parties should agree to it.

|Keep in mind that any new lease, strategies, or rent consideration are necessary for your investment's future. Decide on a rent amount before your first meeting with prospective new tenants. Setting your goals will allow you to confidently deal with your commercial property.

|One major part of commercial real estate deals is inspections. When property you are involved in is being inspected, take steps to verify the legitimacy of every inspector. Many people in certain fields are not accredited, including pest and insect removal services. This can help you avoid headaches after the sale.

You want to verify that the rent roll and pro forma terms match. You don't want to regret anything in the future. The pro forma shows the minimum requirements of the lease, while the rent roll shows the total amount of rent collected from each tenant.

|You should establish your presence online before entering the market. Start by having a website designed, and create a LinkedIn profile. Make sure that you use search engine optimization on your website so that people can find you easily. People should be able to locate your online presence simply by searching with your name.

|If you want to spend some money on commercial real estate, consider tax breaks you may get. Investors may receive interest rate deductions as well as depreciation benefits. Phantom income also exists: this type of income does not cover cash benefits but is taxed. It is important that you become familiar with this particular kind of income before you make any investments.

|Look for property that has more units. With more units, you will give yourself a better chance of realizing a significant profit from your property. Many investors tend to shun property with fewer than 10 units, as most subscribe to the idea that there is a direct correlation between the number of units and the amount of money that can be made.

|If you are trying to choose between two good commercial properties, think big. Finding the right bank to finance you might be hard, even if you are going for a smaller building. Also, purchasing more units is like buying in bulk. The more you buy, the cheaper each unit will be.

|Consider visiting websites that contain a wealth of information beneficial to new and seasoned commercial real estate investors alike. You can never have too much knowledge.

|Find out what kind of negotiation style is used by prospective real estate brokers. Inquire into their specific credentials and training; do not be afraid to ask for references. When choosing a real estate broker, make sure that they are ethical when doing business. Ask for examples of successful and unsuccessful past negotiations.

|Ensure that the amount of money you want for your commercial property makes sense, given local market conditions. Many things alter the value of your property./

|You probably do not want to sign a lease form that is standard when you are leasing a commercial piece of real estate. You have to read the lease in full to be sure that there nothing that has been slipped in that will be negative for your organization before you sign anything. If you read the lease with care, it can help you from having a horrible experience.

|Before you enter the commercial real estate market, be sure you have established your presence online. Create a website or a LinkedIn profile for yourself. Once you do that, use SEO techniques on your site to improve its search engine rankings. The intent here is for anyone you deal with being able to find you easily, just by typing your name into their favorite search engine.

Interest rates fluctuating is a major threat to commercial property investors. Current conditions, with their unpredictable rises and falls, leave investors room to make a great profit or to suffer an incredible loss. When you are shopping for commercial property, make sure you consider the long term.

|Be sure to only focus on one investment at a time. You need to focus on one type of investment, whether it be offices, apartments, land, retail, etc. Every type of property has its quirks and pitfalls, so you need to give each type all of your attention. It's better to master one part of commercial real estate than it is to get mediocre results in a variety of categories.

|Conduct tours of potential properties. You can even take a contractor with you to provide expert advice. Put forth your initial proposals, then open the table for negotiations. Consider counteroffers carefully prior to responding.

|The relationship you forge with private lenders and investors when purchasing commercial property is tremendously important. Make sure you have a big network because there's a lot of property that goes unnoticed and is sold, you want to increase your chances of making deals by always being informed.

|Make sure you have sufficient utility to access on any commercial piece of real estate. Your particular business might need additional services, such as cable, but at the minimum there should probably be sewer, water, phone, electric and gas.

|Properties are subject to a life-cycle similar to ours, where they will eventually parish if not ordered and maintained. If you don't realize that eventually you are going to have to put money into the property for maintenance or repairs, you will be very disappointed when that times and the associated bills come. It may need a more updated electrical system, or a new roof. All buildings go through these kinds of phases; some more than others. Before investing in commercial property, determine how you will handle the need to repair the building over time.

|Look into feng shui concepts to organize and design your commercial properties. De-cluttering and open spaces are two key tenets, both of which are attractive to buyers.

|Regarding commercial loans, it is the borrower's responsibility to obtain an appraisal. The bank will not allow you to use it later. Protect yourself from this problem and get the appraisal done on your own dime.

|The commercial space you want to rent may need some changes before you can move in. Cosmetic changes like painting walls and rearranging furniture might be needed. Oftentimes, moving walls and other fixtures is required to redistribute the floorplan. Before buying the property, see if you can get the former owner to pay for some of these costs. If you're renting, the landlord might chip in.

|When selecting a broker, find out the amount of experience they have with the commercial market. For better results they should specialize in the specific area that you want to buy or sell in. Entering into an exclusive contract with that particular broker is a good idea.

Do not feel that you have all the answers to commercial real estate. You should always know that you can learn more about commercial real estate to make yourself a stronger buyer. Take full advantage of what you've learned, so that you can make money.




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